BC's top doctor is appealing for continued vigilance with COVID-19 public health orders as officials try to understand the prevalence of the UK and South African variants and how they entered communities. Doctor Bonnie Henry says that's part of the work being done before pandemic restrictions that have been in place since November are loosened as the province anticipates an increasing number of vaccines to be delivered in the coming weeks. Dr. Henry says that if the variants take hold as in parts of Ontario, a whole new pandemic could get underway so it's important not to undo the progress th

BC will start a clinical trial on a COVID-19 drug therapy approved by Health Canada on an emergency basis for patients who are at risk of severe illness. Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry says the trial on the drug bamlanivimab is expected to get underway by the beginning of March. The antibody drug has been studied elsewhere, and Henry says it would be given to patients within a certain time period after diagnosis. Health Minister Adrian Dix says the trial will be done at Surrey Memorial Hospital with the help of a one-million-dollar donation from a BC biotech company. The drug has

Chinese-Canadian community leaders say the stress of the COVID-19 pandemic has been magnified by racism. Vancouver police reported a surge in anti-Asian hate crime in 2020, with seniors being attacked and businesses vandalized. The president of the Chinese Canadian National Council for Social Justice, Amy Go, says the initial rhetoric around the COVID-19 virus, has been harmful to the Chinese-Canadian community. Some labelled it as the "Wuhan virus" or the "China virus." Go says grocery stores, restaurants and other businesses owned by Chinese-Canadians have been particularly affected by misi

A woman has died as extreme cold grips most of Western Canada and parts of the territories and northern Ontario. RCMP in Dawson Creek, B.C., say the woman's death, related to exposure, happened early Sunday morning while she was walking in that northeastern city. Investigators say she left a friend's house right next door around 1 a.m. but collapsed before arriving at her home. Environment Canada says temperatures in Dawson Creek skidded to a frigid -42.2 C on Sunday and wind chill is making conditions across much of north and central B.C. feel close to -45. The weather office says usually ba

Dr. Bonnie Henry, B.C.’s provincial health officer, and Adrian Dix, Minister of Health, have issued a joint statement regarding updates on the COVID-19 response in British Columbia."Today, we are reporting 471 new cases, including four epi-linked cases, for a total of 69,716 cases in British Columbia."There are 4,423 active cases of COVID-19 in the province. There are 253 individuals currently hospitalized with COVID-19, 70 of whom are in intensive care. The remaining people with COVID-19 are recovering at home in self-isolation."Currently, 6,886 people are under active public health monito

A suspect has been arrested in an alleged sexual assault at a park in Surrey. The RCMP says a man in Pioneer Park was accused of groping a youth early yesterday afternoon. They say a 65 year old man was arrested but is to be released with several conditions including not attending Surrey schools or parks. The Mounties say charges have not yet been laid, as the investigation is ongoing. Surrey RCMP on Twitter: Investigators have now identified and arrested a 65 year old suspect in the groping incident from Feb 4. Thank you to the public and media for sharing the original post with photos which

BC's top doctor says current provincewide health orders on gatherings will remain in place until at least the end of the month. Dr. Bonnie Henry says just one super-spreader event or a slight increase in contacts could counteract all progress made so far to slow the spread of COVID-19, especially as two variants of the virus have been identified here. She says restrictions must stay so there's a smooth finish as more vaccines are available. Dr. Henry says an easing of restrictions could be considered by the end of February, to allow people to spend time with their safe six. Health Minister Ad

A gang enforcement team has been formed by Burnaby RCMP as the top Mountie in the city says gang activity there has leaped 30 per cent in one year. Chief Superintendent Deanne Burleigh says Burnaby has seen six stabbings, nine shootings and three gang-related homicides since the start of 2020. She announced the new unit as RCMP investigate the latest targeted shooting that killed 32 year old Chris Kenworthy on Wednesday evening. Homicide detectives say Kenworthy, who is known to them, was attacked in his vehicle in southeast Burnaby and although the slaying was not random, they say it's too e

The body of the man who was killed in a mud-rush incident at the New Afton Mine near Kamloops has been recovered. Contract driller Ray Rosenberg was identified by family as the victim but mine owner New Gold says it will not be releasing a name because of personal and privacy reasons. The company confirmed that a body was recovered around 5:30 pm Wednesday evening. It was almost 40 hours after the incident happened early on Tuesday morning. All underground mining and surface activities remain suspended as the investigation into the incident continues.